England recall Saqlain’s spin partner Salisbury

In his one Test against Sri Lanka he took one for 86. David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said: "We had a long debate about spin. We feel that there is a greater mental strength to his (Salisbury’s) bowling. In particular his strike rate in the second innings has been impressive. "The only person I’ve seen collar him this summer is Darren Lehmann (Yorkshire’s Australia batsman)."

In Surrey matches Salisbury is often bowling in tandem with Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. This has led to the criticism that Saqlain helps his partner by putting such pressure on the batsmen that if they survive against him they then fail against Salisbury. It is a criticism Graveney rejected. "I don’t think bowling at the other end to Saqlain flatters him. I think it is important for him to be part of the squad for the whole series."

Salisbury’s inclusion means there is no place for fellow leg-spinner Chris Schofield. The 21-year-old was one of England’s 12 centrally-contracted players at the start of the season but Graveney said England didn’t think he was ready to go to the sub-continent.

The lack of surprise in the other selections is down to the fact that of the 16 players chosen, the 12 announced here on Sunday for the final Test against the West Indies knew they were certain to be going on tour. This left four places to be filled and along with Salisbury the other members of the quartet are Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, Kent’s Paul Nixon, who will be reserve wicketkeeper to Alec Stewart and Yorkshire pace bowler Matthew Hoggard.

Curiously, Salisbury has not been selected for the final Test against the West Indies, which starts at The Oval – his home ground – on Thursday. "One of the things we’ve tried to do by announcing the tour party now is to prevent The Oval Test becoming a trial match which has sometimes happened in the past," Graveney explained.

"For this match we felt that Ashley Giles left-arm finger spin would be a better option."

This will be England’s first tour to Pakistan since 1987, a tour best remembered for the dramatic on field row between England captain Mike Gatting and Pakistan umpire Shakoor Rana. Since then England batsman Allan Lamb has accused Pakistani fast bowlers of ball-tampering and some English journalists have even suggested the Pakistan leg of the tour should be abandoned because of match-fixing fears.

Graveney insisted, though that he wasn’t anticipating any problems this time. "I’ve been to Lahore twice and the arrangements and welcome have been exemplary. Pakistani cricket wickets are the best in the world." Graveney knows full well how hard a challenge both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will present. "It’s more difficult than touring Australia. We will be facing some of the world’s best spinners on their home grounds."

"I believe this is a strong team but I don’t underestimate how tough both countries will be."

England will play three Tests each in Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as three One-Day Internationals in both countries. Before the Pakistan series starts in October an England team will play in the International Cricket Council one-day tournament earlier that month in Kenya.

There are unconfirmed plans for England’s reserve ‘A’ team to play in the Busta Cup, the West Indies’ domestic first-class competition. England tour squad to Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 2000-1

Test squad: Nasser Hussain (Essex, capt), Michael Atherton (Lancashire), Andrew Caddick (Somerset), Dominic Cork (Derbyshire), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Darren Gough (Yorkshire), Graeme Hick (Worcestershire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Paul Nixon (Kent, wkt), Ian Salisbury (Surrey), Alec Stewart (Surrey, wkt), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Graham Thorpe (Surrey), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Craig White (Yorkshire)

One-day squad: Hussain (capt), Mark Alleyne (Gloucestershire), Caddick, Mark Ealham (Kent), Flintoff, Giles, Gough, Hick, Nick Knight (Warwickshire), Alan Mullally (Hampshire), Stewart (wkt), Trescothick, Thorpe, White.